Whales Transport Thousands of Tons of Nutrients Across Oceans, Supporting Marine Ecosystems

A new study highlights how whale migrations distribute essential nutrients, boosting ocean health and coral reef ecosystems.

Whales act as a 'nutrient conveyor belt,' transporting approximately 4,000 tons of nitrogen and over 45,000 tons of biomass annually from polar feeding grounds to tropical breeding areas.
Nutrients from whale excretions, including urine, sloughed skin, and carcasses, support the growth of phytoplankton, which play a critical role in absorbing carbon and producing oxygen.
This nutrient redistribution doubles nitrogen levels in nutrient-poor coastal areas, benefiting marine life such as coral reefs, fish, and invertebrates.
The study, published in *Nature Communications*, underscores the ecological importance of whale populations, which were drastically reduced by industrial whaling in the past.
Researchers suggest that restoring whale populations could significantly enhance ocean health and the planet’s nutrient cycles.